Hen-cage register



July 5, 1949. R, MLSON Y 2,474,965

HEN CAGE REGISTER Filed Oct. 1, 1948 Inventor Rqna/d V. Wilson I W WMU,

Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES OFFICE HEN-CAGE REGISTER Ronald V. Wilson, Santa Ana Heights, Calif.

Application October 1', 1948, Serial No. 52,223

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a manually operable counting device for use particularly in association with wire hen cages and the like.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a device for recording the number of eggs laid by hens in a wire cage in a given time interval. Most egg recorders now in use are nothing more than a sheet of metal with holes in it for receiving nails or wires. Should a nail drop into the cage the hens will peek at it. Also, hens will peck at the nails in the holes eventually removing them and spoiling the record. The device of the instant invention obviates the necessity of using removable nails or wires as recording indicators.

Another object of this invention is to provide a record or counting device which is extremely simple to construct, may be easily bent to any desired form, and may be readily assembled for attachment to a wire cage.

These, together with various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the device, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the record of the instant invention mounted upon a wire cage;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the plate member prior to the time that it is bent as shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the plane of 22 of Figure 1.

Specific reference is now made to the drawings. In the several views in the accompanying drawings and in the following specification reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout.

Generally indicated at H] is a wire hen cage having a conventional feeding trough l2 and an egg rack Id at the front end of the cage. The rack is arcuated and like the cage consists of longitudinal wires H5 in crossed relationship with transverse wires 18. Additional vertical support wires are provided for reinforcement purposes.

The counting device of the instant invention consists of a plate 22 of substantially rectangular shape having integral lugs 24 at the top and bottom edges thereof. The plate is provided with a transversely extending cut-out or window portion 26 into which extends a plurality of prongs 28 integral with the plate forming a series of transversely spaced notches 30.

On the plate adjacent the window portion is a series of transversely spaced indicia 32, each indicia being positioned opposite and corresponding to a notch 30. It is, of course, understood that the indicia may be placed on the plate below as well as above the notches.

The plate 22 is arcuated or deformed to produce a rearwardly inclined base member 3 3 and a rearwardly and upwardly inclined side member 36, the latter including the window portion and the indicia. Once arcuated the lugs 24 are crimped about and detachably secured to the transverse wires [8 of the egg rack I4.

An indicator bar 38 in the form preferably of a leaf spring is pivotally secured by means of a pivot pin 40 to the rear of the base member 3 5 and extends through the window portion. The indicator bar normally rests in any one of the notches 30 and carries a handle portion 42 at its free end. Thus by lifting and moving the indicator bar it can be made to selectively engage any of the notches to record the number of eggs laid.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a hen cage and the like, an egg counting device comprising a plate having a base member and a rearwardly inclined side member integral therewith, means for detachably securing said plate to a side of the cage, a transversely extending window portion in the side member, spaced notches carried by said side member opening into said window portion, transversely spaced indicia on said side member adjacent the window portion and opposite said notches, and a resilient indicator bar extending through said window and pivoted to said base member for selectively engaging said notches.

2. The combination of claim 1 and a handle portion on the free end of said indicator bar.

RONALD V. WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,934,538 Hedricks Nov. 7, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,592 Great Britain 1909 

